Date for full inquest into Shoreham Airshow disaster is finally set

A full inquest into the deaths caused by the 2015 Shoreham Airshow is set to begin on September 14, more than five years since the incident.

11 men were killed when a vintage jet crashed onto the A27 just north of the airfield, on August 22 2015.

The aircraft’s pilot, Andy Hill, was previously cleared on 11 charges of manslaughter.

Officials said the inquest is due to last six weeks, and will be held by the West Sussex coroner at Centenary House, Crawley.

Before the full inquest, there will be one further pre-inquest review, due to take place on Wednesday June 24, which will be held to agree the list of required witnesses and finalise any other administrative matters.

The date was set at a pre-inquest review today (Wednesday, 29) in which the coroner, Penelope Schofield, ruled she will not be sitting with a jury.

She said:

“I have taken into account all the views of the interested person but it is my view that there is not sufficient reason for departing from the presumption in schedule 1 para 11(3) Coroners in Justice Act 2009 in favour of me sitting alone without a Jury.

“I do accept that this case raises questions on matter of great public importance.

“However, as a Coroner I will be able to make very detailed and reasoned factual findings, which will be announced publicly, it is my position that public interest can be better served by sitting alone.”

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